File cabinet locking device



Jan. 3, 1961- w. c. NELSON 2,967, 80

vFILE CABINET LOCKING DEVICE Filed July 8, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet l Flegl FIG- 2 INVEN'TOR J v WALLACE c- NELsoN ATTORNEY Jan..3, 1961 W. C. NELSON FILE CABINET LOCKING DEVICE Filed July 8, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR WALLACE C- NELSON ATTORNEY Unite Sttes atet FILE CABINET LOCKING DEVICE Wallace C. Nelson, Glastonbury, Conn., assignor to United Aircraft Corporation, East Hartford, Conn, a corporation of Delaware Filed July 8, 1958, Ser. No. 747,188 12 Claims. (Cl. 312-216) This invention relates to locking devices for file cabinets of the type including a plurality of drawers arranged one over the other in a vertical stack. Usually file cabinets of this type consist of either four or five drawers which may be of the letter file width or the wider legal file width. Each drawer is provided with a U-shaped pull-type handle, both ends of which are fixed in the front face of the drawer. A suitable latch mechanism is associated with each drawer for holding the drawer closed, and a latch operating member is provided adjacent the handle so that the latch can be released by the same hand that grasps the handle.

It is an object of this invention to provide a simple locking device for such file cabinets and, more especially, toprovide a locking device for preventing the release of the latch for any drawer of the cabinet.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a locking device which normally is not in any way attached to the cabinet when the cabinet is not locked. 1

Some file cabinets of this type are provided with a combination lock on one drawer, usually the top drawer. An interlock is provided by which, if all the lower drawers are closed and the top drawer is closed and locked by the combination lock, it is impossible to open any drawer. In offices where there is strict security control, there may be many hundreds of these file cabinets. When a guard in making a routine night security check finds a filing cabinet unlocked, he can lock it if the bolt of the cabinet lock has not been thrown and locked.

However, if the bolt has been thrown he cannot lock the file since the combination is not made available to him. The procedure is to lock the file, if possible, and submit a complaint report. If the file cannot be locked, a guard must be assigned to watch the cabinet until someone having the combination can be located and come to the oflice and lock the file. Frequently, he must come from home, which may be many miles distant and the guard may not be relieved for hours.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a locking device which will permit a guard to secure the drawers of a file cabinet of this type when the bolt is thrown and secure the contents of the cabinet until someone who knows the combination can be contacted, without the necessity of placing a guard over it.

A yet further object of the invention is to provide a convenient locking device for a file cabinet which eliminates the necessity for combination locks and which is much less expensive than the combination lock.

A further object of this invention is generally to improve locks for file cabinets.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will be pointed out in connection with the following detailed description of several embodiments of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a typical file cabinet having the locking device of this invention in drawer locking position thereon;

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Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the locking device with parts broken away to facilitate illustration;

Fig. 3 is a view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view taken on line 44 of Fig. l with the padlock removed;

Fig. 5 is a detail showing the latching mechanism for one of the file drawers taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a detail view taken on line 6--6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a side view of another type of file cabinet having a combination lock, part of the cabinet being broken away;

Fig. 8 is a front view of the cabinet of Fig. 7; and

Fig. 9 is a front view of a file cabinet having a dilferent latching mechanism with a modified locking device thereon.

As shown in Fig. l, a file cabinet 10 has four drawers 12 arranged one over the other and slidable horizontally into and out of the cabinet on usual track mechanism, not shown. Each drawer has a U-shaped handle 14 having threaded ends 15 which project through the front of the drawer and are secured by nuts 16 and a connecting portion 17 which is adapted to be grasped to slide the drawer into and out of the cabinet. The front of the drawers are double-walled as shown in Fig. 4, and include a front panel 18 and a rear panel 19 between which latch mechanism is located for releasably latching the drawer against withdrawal from the cabinet. The latching mechanism includes a locking bolt 18a biased by a spring 20 into a position in which it engages a camshaped latch abutment 21 on intermediate drawer divider 22 of the cabinet. This abutment, as shown in Fig. 6, has its earn surface facing the front of the cabinet so that as the drawer moves into closed position the hooked end 23 of bolt 18a drops back of the vertical rear face of abutment 21 to prevent the drawer from being pulled out.

The locking bolt 18a is operated by a bell crank 24 pivotally mounted at 25 on the front of the drawer be tween panels 18 and 19, one arm of which is pivoted at 25a to the bolt and the other arm of which is provided with an integral latch actuating member 26 which projects through a slot in panel 18. The projecting portion of member 26 is located adjacent b-ut spaced from one end of handle 14 and is curved to receive the first finger of the hand which grasps the handle so that the bolt 18:: can be released by the same hand which opens the drawer. If desired, the member 26 may extend horizontally and the cam abutment 21 may be mounted on the cabinet at the side of the drawer opening.

As shown most clearly in Figs. 4 and 5, the latch actuating member 26 is normally held by spring 24) in position to latch the drawer closed in which position of the latch member a space 30 is provided between the latch actuating member and the adjacent end of the handle. Movement of the latch actuating member 26 to the left in Fig. 4 into the space 30 withdraws the latch bolt 18a from back of cam abutment 21 on the transverse cabinet portion 22 and permits the drawer to be opened.

In accordance with this invention a locking device is provided which normally forms no part of the cabinet. When placed in cabinet locking position on the cabinet this bar prevents the latch for any drawer from being released by its latch actuating member 26. To this end a bar 32'is provided of sufficient length to extend vertically in front of the drawers 12 and having a plurality of locking pins 34 secured thereto at spaced points along its length, one being provided for each of the drawers 12. These pins include a transverse portion 36 which is welded to the bar and an upright locking portion 38 which is parallel to the bar and extends into the space 30 between the handle end and the adjacent latch actuat:

3 ing member 26 as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Preferably, the locking portions 38 are tapered at as. The diameter of the locking portion 3-3 is sufficient to occupy the space 3 3 between the latch member 26 and the handle end, so that when the pin is in locking position the latch member 26 cannot be moved to the left in Fig. 3 to withdraw the bolt 13a associated therewith.

The locking bar, with its locking pins 34, is held in latch engaging position by a horizontal locking plate 42 which is welded at one end at 44 to the locking bar and rests upon the top of the handle 14 of one of the drawers. As shown herein, a flange 46 is provided at the end of the plate that is welded to the locking bar. This fiange is welded to the plate and to the locking bar to add rigidity to the plate. The plate 42 is provided with an aperture 4-8 adjacent its free end which lies inside the U-shaped handle 1 on which the plate rests and is adapted to receive the hasp of a padlock which also encircles the con necting portion 17 of the handle between its two ends 15.

The form of the modified locking bar shown in Figs. 7 and 8 is the same as that shown in Fig. 2, except that an offset portion 52 is provided for that portion of the bar that extends in front of the upper drawer 12. This enables a cabinet of the type having combination lock 54 which controls a bolt 56 to be locked even though the upper drawer carrying the combination lock is open and the lock has been turned to throw the bolt 56 into drawer locking position relative to the drawer but outside the, face of-the cabinet.

In Fig. 9 a modified form of locking device has been shown in-which the bar 32 is identical with that shownin Fig. 2, except that the locking portions 38a are oblique to the bar 32 in order to enter into the space between the handle end anda latch member 26a which is'pivoted at 58. It will be evident thatwhen pin 38a is in position shown in Fig. 9,, the latch member 26 cannot be moved counterclockwise to; release the drawer.

It will be. evidentthat as a result of this invention a very simple and inexpensive device has been provided for locking a multiple drawer cabinet. When the locking bar 32 is placed in locking position with the pins 34 in the space 39 between each latch member 26 and its adjacent handle, the plate 42 rests on the top of the adjacent handle 14 so that the device is self-supporting while the hasp of the padlock. is being inserted in aperture, 48.

- It will also be evident that by providing the offset portion 52. shown inFigs. 7 and8, a locking device has been provided which is capable of securing the drawers of a combination. safe cabinet under conditions in which the drawer carrying combination lock has been left open with the bolt thrown. Also, it will be noted that the locking device of this invention is applicable to a large number of different types of cabinets without in any way altering the cabinet to receive the locking device. The device is not restricted to any particular type of padlock but will accommodate any standard padlock.

While three embodiments of the invention have been shown herein for purposes of illustration, it will be evident that various changes in the construction and arrangement of the latch locking abutments may be made to suit that particular type of latch member found on various cabinets without departing from the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In combination, a file cabinet having a plurality of vertically arranged drawers, each drawer having a U-shaped handle, both ends of which are connected to the front of the drawer, latch mechanism for releasably holding said drawers closed, a latch actuating member carried by each drawer adjacent the handle and movable relative to the handle to release the drawer, and locking means for said drawers including a bar of sufficient length to extend vertically in front of all of said drawers, an abutment carried by said bar adapted to abut the latch actuating member on one of said drawers and prevent said movement thereof relative to said handle, and alocking plate carried by said bar in position to lie adjacent one of said handles when said abutment is in engagement with said latch actuating member, said plate having an aperture adapted to receive the hasp of a padlock which also encircles said adjacent handle to prevent displacement of said bar and said abutment thereon from latch securing position.

2. in combination, a file cabinet having a plurality of drawers, latch mechanism for releasably holding said drawers closed, each of said drawers having a U-shaped handle which is connected at both ends to the drawer and a latch actuating member carried by. the drawer and normally located adjacent but spaced, from one end of its U-shaped handle and movable toward said handle to release said drawer, and locking means cooperating with said handles and latch actuating members for locking all of said drawers, said locking means comprising a bar of sufficient length to extend vertically in front of all of said drawers, a plurality of offset pins fixed to said bar, one for each of said drawers, said pins being positioned on said bar so that the offset portions thereof project between said latch actuating members and the adjacent ends of said handles, and a locking plate carried by said bar which is fixed against substantial axial movement thereon and adapted to lie adjacent one of said handles when said pins are in locking position, said locking plate having an aperture for receiving the hasp of a padlock which also encloses said adjacent handle.

3. in combination, a file cabinet including a plurality of vertically arranged drawers, latch mechanism for releasably holding said drawers closed, each drawer having a U-shaped handle including spaced ends connected .to the-front of the drawer and an intermediate connecting portion, a latch actuating member carried by each drawer adjacent its handle and movable toward-one. end ofsaid handle to release the drawer, and locking meansfor securing all of said drawers against access to materialstored therein including a locking bar of suflicient length to extend vertically in front of all of said drawers and carrying a plurality of spaced locking members, one for each of said drawers, said locking members forming abutments adapted to enter between said latch actuating members and said one end of the adjacent handles, and a look ing plate carried by said locking bar having an aperture adapted to receive the hasp of a padlock which also encircles an adjacent handle, said plate being secured to said bar so as to lie adjacent one of said handles when said locking members are in position to engage said latch actuating members.

4. In combination, a file cabinet including a plurality of vertically arranged drawers, each having a U-shaped handle including spaced ends connected to the front of the drawer and an intermediate connecting portion, latch mechanism for holding said drawers closed, a latch actuating member carried by each drawer adjacent its handle and movable relative to one end of said handle to release the drawer, and locking means for securing all of said drawers against access to material stored therein including a locking bar of sufficient length to extend vertically in front of all of said drawers, said bar carrying a plurality of vertically spaced locking members, one for the latch actuating member of each drawer, said locking members forming abutments for engaging said latch actuating members and preventing their drawer releasing movement relative to said handles, and means for looking said bar to the handle of one of said drawers with said locking members in engagement with said latch actuating members.

5. In combination, a file cabinet having a plurality'of vertically arranged drawers, each having a handle, latch mechanism for holding said drawers closed, a latch actuating member carried by each drawer in spaced relation to its handle and movable relative to said handle' to. re.- lease the drawer, a bar of sufficient length to extend ver= tically in front of all of said drawers, a plurality of vertically projecting locking pins carried by said bar, one for each drawer, adapted to be moved by said bar upwardly into the spaces between said latch actuating members and said handles and block the realeasing movement of said latch actuating members, means for locking said bar to the handle of one of said drawers with said pins in said spaces, said last-mentioned means including an apertured plate which rests on the top of one of said handles and prevents downward displacement of said bar and the locking pins carried thereby, and a padlock having its hasp passed through said aperture and through the adjacent handle.

6. In combination, a file cabinet having a plurality of vertically arranged drawers, each having a handle, latch mechanism for holding said drawers closed, a latch actuating member carried by each drawer in spaced relation to its handle and movable relative to said handle to release the drawer, a bar of sufiicient length to extend vertically in front of all of said drawers, a plurality of upwardly projecting locking pins carried by said bar, one for each drawer, adapted to be removed by said bar upwardly into the spaces between said latch actuating members and said handles and block the releasing movement of said latch actuating members, and means for locking said bar to the handle of one of said drawers with said pins in said spaces.

7. A portable locking bar for securing the drawers of a file cabinet of the type having a plurality of vertically arranged drawers, each having a handle fixed thereto on the front of the drawer and a latch member carried by each drawer in spaced relation to said handle and movable relative to said handle for releasing the drawer, the locking bar being of sufficient length to extend vertically in front of all of said drawers, a plurality of locking pins fixed to said bar in vertically spaced relationship, one for each drawer, said pins having ofiset upstanding portions adapted to occupy the spaces between said handles and said latch members and prevent releasing movement of the latter, and means for securing said rod to one of said handles including a locking plate carried by said rod in a plane transverse thereto having an aperture for the hasp of a padlock which also encircles said one handle.

8. In combination, a file cabinet having a plurality of vertically arranged drawers, each drawer having a U-shaped handle, both ends of which are fixed to the front of the drawer, latch mechanisms for holding said drawers closed, a latch actuating member carried by each drawer adjacent the handle thereon and movable relative to the handle to release the drawer, the top drawer of the cabinet having a bolt-type combination lock, and means for securing all of said drawers against access to material stored therein when the top drawer is slightly open, the bottom drawers are latched closed, and the bolt of said lock is extended, said locking means comprising a bar of sufiicient length to extend vertically in front of all of said drawers in contact with the face of the drawers and outside said handles, said bar having a horizontally offset portion at its upper end to accommodate said top drawer in its slightly open position, locking pins fixed to said bar at vertically spaced points, one for each drawer, said pins adapted to extend between said latch actuating member and the adjacent handles, and means for locking said plate to the handle of a lower drawer for preventing displacement of said locking pins including a locking plate carried by said bar in position to lie adjacent one of said handles when said pins are in latch locking position.

9. In combination, a file cabinet having a plurality of vertically arranged drawers, each drawer having a U-shaped handle the ends of which are fixed to the front of the drawer, latch mechanism for holding said drawers closed, a latch actuating member adjacent each handle movable relative to the handle to release the drawer, the top drawer of the cabinet having a bolt-type combination lock, and means for locking all of said drawers against access to material therein when the top drawer has been left open with the bolt of said lock extended, said locking means comprising a unitary locking bar having a length sufiicient to extend vertically in front of all of said drawers in contact with the face thereof, said bar being horizontally offset at its upper end to accommodate the top ,drawer in its slightly open position, locking pins fixed to said bar at vertically spaced points, one for each drawer, each of said pins having an upstanding portion generally parallel with said bar but slightly offset therefrom which is adapted to be inserted between a latch actuating member and the adjacent handle, and means for securing said bar with said pins in the aforesaid drawer locking position including a locking member carried by said bar in position to overlie one of said drawer handles, said member having an aperture for the hasp of a padlock which also encircles said handle, and a padlock for securing said plate to said handle.

10. A locking device for a file cabinet of the type having a plurality of vertically arranged drawers each having a handle on the front thereof, comprising a bar having a plurality of locking pins fixed thereto in spaced relation along its length, one pin being provided for each file drawer, each of said pins being fixed to said bar at one end and having a portion at its other end extending generally parallel with said bar, and means for locking said bar to a handle on the front of one of the lower drawers of said file cabinet including a plate member fixed to said bar and having a portion projecting therefrom in position to overlie a handle of one of said drawers, said projection having an aperture adapted to receive the hasp of a padlock.

11. A locking device for a file cabinet of the type hav' ing a plurality of vertically arranged drawers each having a handle on the front thereof, comprising a bar of sufficient length to extend over the fronts of allof the drawers, a plurality of L shaped locking pins secured to said bar at spaced points along the length of said bar in position to register with the handles on said drawers, each of said pins having a first leg transversely disposed relative to said bar and secured rigidly at one end to said bar and having a second leg disposed at an oblique angle relative to the length of said bar, and a plate fixed to said bar at one end and disposed in a plane transverse to the length of said bar in position to overlie a handle on one of said drawers and having a locking aperture adjacent its free end.

12. A portable file cabinet locking device capable of use on any one of a number of cabinets comprising an elongated bar having a plurality of locking pins secured thereto at spaced points along the length of said bar, each of said pins having a portion transverse to the axis of said bar which is secured at one of its ends to said bar and having a connected angularly related portion which is spaced from said bar by said transverse portion, a locking plate carried by said bar intermediate the ends of said bar adjacent one of said pins and fixed against longitudinal movement relative to said bar, said locking plate disposed in a plane transverse to the length of said bar and having an aperture therein for receiving the hasp of a padlock.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 788,966 Upton May 2, 1905 1,260,919 Lanterman Mar. 26, 1918 1,378,381 Sachnoff May 17, 1921 1,455,198 Gibson May 15, 1923 

